1.8 Rebuild Won't Idle Options

[jwilliamadams]

Greetings,

I have rebuilt my 1.8 and at the same time used new slip in pistons and cylinders that were slightly larger (93x66mm, which I believe works to 1.9+L). The place I purchased them from (West Coast Core in CA) assured me that my L-Jet FI would still work great. Well, I can't get the damn thing to idle. I do not have any vacuum leaks (sure of it.) Timing and dwell are right on. Fuel pressure is good. It runs great past idle with all kinds of power. I have the idle adj screw all the way maxed. At this setting it maybe idles at 700RPM. I have a second air flow meter from same year (1974) that I know works and tried it out with same results. Is it possible that with the new p/c size they are needing more air at idle, more than can be sent through the current idle air port in the throttle assembly?

Thanks for any help!

[srb7f]

Does it hunt when it idles? The 2.0 I just installed had similar problems with the idle for whatever reason. It wouldn't idle well at all, and would usually stall out any time I pushed in the clutch. The problem ended up being that it was running too lean (even with the adjustment screw all the way rich). The solution for me was to add 3 100 ohm resistors in series with the cyllinder head temperature sensor. This will richen the fuel mixture at idle and under acceleration. Such that you have increased the size of your pistons (in essence adding air) without changing your L-jet (fuel) seems like this might be a problem for you as well. I think the resistors cost me all of $4 at radioshack and another 30 minutes tinkering in the parking lot and I was good to go. Steve